Veganism Explained
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” –Mahatma Gandhi
Though the term vegan has been around since 1944, it is still not a word many people understand, and there is much misinformation out there. Here then are some frequently asked questions:
Question: How do you get your protein? Don’t humans NEED meat to survive? Answer: Think of some of the largest land animals: elephants, rhinos, gorillas, wildebeest, and hippos. These are all herbivores. Gorilla’s are one of the strongest animals on Earth! Elephants are the biggest. All of these animals do just fine without meat, and so can we. There are plenty of ways to get protein without eating meat and animal flesh is not necessary for good health. Vegans get their protein from beans such as soy, lentils, chickpeas, also, oats, brown rice, nuts and seeds, veggies such as broccoli, brussel sprouts, asparagus, peas, quinoa, and leafy greens all provide plenty of protein. Humans DO NOT need to eat animal flesh to get protein! (Please read The China Study, for scientific information about a whole-foods, plant based/vegan diet.)
Question: Don’t you need milk for calcium? Doesn’t milk do a body good? How do you get your calcium? Answer: I’m sorry to break this to you, but you’ve been LIED to your entire life! Cow’s milk is not essential to human health, and in fact, is BAD for you! (This is not my opinion. Read The China Study) Like all mammals, cows produce milk to nourish their growing babies. Their milk is rich in all the things baby cows need. Humans can get calcium from veggies such as kale, broccoli, bok choy and cabbage, as well as legumes like beans and lentils. Also walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, pistachios, and Brazil nuts, also chia and sesame seeds, whole grains such as oats, also figs, raisins, apricots and prunes.
There is NOTHING in cow’s milk that humans require to thrive and survive, despite what the dairy industry will have you believe. “But my nutritionist/ dietician/ doctor says Milk does a body good,” you argue. Well guess what? They say this because they are owned by the dairy companies who have told them this again and again. Just like the tobacco companies denied their products were bad for you, so the dairy industry and government denies that milk and milk products are bad for you. Doctors don’t even usually have any nutritional training! And nutritionists and dietitians are often incentivized to tell patients to eat meat and drink dairy because of monetary benefits by doing so. I dare you to do some research– start by reading a book called the China Study–the most comprehensive study ever undertaken of the relationship between diet and the risk of developing disease, or How Not to Die, or Whole.
Here are some Facts from the China Study:
1. The casein protein in cows’ milk, which makes up 80% of its protein content, was found to be a relevant chemical carcinogen—meaning it can turn on our cancer-promoting genes.
2. Countries with the highest calcium intake, mostly from cows’ milk, have the highest rates of osteoporosis. Casein protein causes the calcium in our bones to be leached into the body, weakening the bones. This happens as a result of dairy creating an acidic environment within the body and the calcium from our bones is used to neutralize the body.
3. The casein protein increases the cholesterol in the blood, leading to atherosclerosis (plaque build up inside the inner artery walls, which may ultimately constrict blood flow and cause a heart attack or stroke).
4. Dairy proteins have been linked to the development of autoimmune diseases—such as type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis—through a mechanism known as molecular mimicry.
5. In dozens of experiments conducted over 30 years, casein was found to be a powerful promoter of experimental cancer. Wheat and soy proteins, however, did not stimulate cancer development.
6. There is no one single component of dairy that connects it to chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis; rather, the substance contains a host of problematic factors. According to Dr. Campbell’s work, these factors include, “the increased activity of growth factors and compensatory cell replication, metabolic acidosis and its impact on key enzyme reactions, hormonal imbalances, and adverse effects on immune system components.”
What this tells us is that milk taken from a cow cannot be altered to become truly safe for human consumption. While many companies have attempted to remove the lactose and cut down on the inherent saturated fat found in dairy, they cannot eliminate the natural hormones found in all dairy, nor can they cease the growth-promoting characteristics of what, truly, is infant food—cow infant food, that is. Skeptics often say not all protein is created equal, and The China Study confirms this. Some proteins are downright dangerous.
Question: How is veganism different from being a vegetarian? Answer: Even though these are similar, they are not the same. Vegans believe that exploitation of animals is wrong and don’t eat or use, any products made from animals, including eggs, animal flesh, and milk, including products made from milk like ice cream, butter, heavy cream, cheese, etc. They don’t support products that contain animal products like fur, leather, silk, feathers, etc. Vegetarians on the other hand, refrain from eating the flesh of animals, including cows, chickens, pigs, fish and other marine animals. Vegetarians continue to consume products that come from animals, or are made from things that come from animals, like milk, eggs, and cream.
Being a vegetarian is a DIET, whereas being vegan is a PHILOSOPHY and way of living that seeks to exclude–as far as is possible and practical–all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing, or any other purpose, including places that use animals for entertainment like zoos, aquariums, and circuses.
In short, there is a very big difference between being vegan and being vegetarian.
Question: Isn’t it hard being eating no dairy products, and no animal flesh? Answer: Sometimes it is challenging, like when I’m traveling and eating out at a restaurant, but in most places, it is possible to find plant-based menu options, and restaurants that have vegan dishes. It just requires a little effort, which in my opinion is a small price to pay for not having to be forced into eating animals or animal products like milk and cheese.
I believe there’s no excuse for animal abuse–and consumption of animal flesh, and animal products like milk or eggs, is animal abuse.
Question: How can you live without ice cream? Answer: When I first became vegan I thought this would be the hardest part. I thought I would have to get used to never eating delicious ice cream again but I discovered several companies that make dairy-free ice cream. I have found some very yummy flavors that I LOVE. So I don’t have to live without delicious ice cream! Ben and Jerry’s makes some delicious dairy-free flavors and many ice cream shops now offer options for vegans. A local ice cream shop here in Asheville, NC, called The Hop, had 9 vegans flavors of ice cream when I was there the other day! As word gets out and the world changes for the betterment of animals, dairy free ice cream will become more and more common. The more people who request it and order it, the more they will continue to make it and increase the flavor choices.
Question: Is it healthy to be vegan? Answer: Without a doubt, a whole foods, plant based/vegan diet can be healthy. Obviously if you live on French fries and pasta, both of which are naturally vegan, this isn’t healthy! But if you make a bit of effort to eat a variety of plant-based foods, you can be healthy. (Read The China Study for more science-based research on a whole foods, plant based diet.)
Question: Do you ever miss eating meat, or dairy products? Answer: I have learned too much, and have seen too many videos and photos of the horrific mistreatment of animals to ever be able to go back to the way I used to eat. I can’t unsee or unlearn these facts. Because I care about animals and believe every animal deserves respect, I do not ever want to consume these products again. In addition, I have discovered MANY great recipes that taste delicious. So I don’t need to live without delicious foods. All I have to live without is the knowledge that my dollars are supporting pain, torture and death of sentient animals. My values are aligned with my actions and beliefs.
Question: I heard that cows will die if they are not milked. Is this true? Answer: Absolutely not. Cows produce milk for their babies, and only for a few months. When their milk runs out, the farmers impregnate them again, and then when they give birth, steal their baby again so they can steal their milk, several times daily. This happens repeatedly for several years until they are considered “spent” and are then sent to slaughter. Humans have messed with the cows so much that they now produce abnormal amounts of milk– so humans can steal it and use it for themselves. We could stop this vicious cycle of torture anytime and the cows would be able to nurse their babies.
Question: Don’t you think humans are superior to other animals, and as a result should be able to do whatever they want to them? Answer: No, I don’t believe humans are superior to other animals, and even if I did think that, it would still not be justification for inflicting pain and suffering on defenseless animals.
Question: But lions eat other animals. Shouldn’t that mean we can too? Answer: Lions are carnivores. Their teeth are very different than our teeth. The only way for them to survive is to hunt and eat other animals. Humans on the other hand have herbivore teeth, and do not need to kill animals to survive. There is nothing in animal products that we require for good health. Lions also sometimes kill their babies. Should we allow humans to do that too, since lions do this? See how ridiculous the lions- eat -other- animals- argument is? Why do we choose one thing lions do, and use it as reasoning and an excuse to do the same thing?
Question: But we’ve always eaten other animals and consumed dairy products! Why should we change now?Answer: Just because we’ve always done something, doesn’t mean we should keep doing it this way. This sentence is dangerous! Women used to not be able to vote. We used to think it was okay to have slaves. We used to hang women accused of being witches when they spoke their minds, or loved nature. Obviously, we no longer do these things. We know things now that we didn’t before, such as that eating meat contributes to global warming, water shortages, loss of biodiversity, habitat loss, pollution of rivers and oceans, and lots of other things. There is no reason we can’t use our intelligence to make changes that are better for the planet, for the animals, and for our own health. Let’s stop following the masses, and put our compassion and intelligence to action. How can we call ourselves civilized if this is how we treat our fellow earthlings?
Question: It’s too overwhelming to think about!! How do I get started? Answer: Just like anything else, take it slow. You don’t have to stop eating all of these things overnight. Make small changes. Research vegan recipes. There are many, many, many people who offer free vegan recipes, such as on Instagram, every single day. There are very delicious vegan recipes out there. With a bit of patience and willingness to experiment, you will find things you enjoy.
Question: What about organic beef, or pasture-raised pork? I only buy organic beef! I support pasture-raised meat! Answer: No sentiment animal wants to die and there is no humane way to kill an animal that does not want to die. They feel fear. They smell death. They know something bad is coming, even if they don’t know what it is.
Again, there is no humane way to kill any animal who does not want to die.
Question: I buy cage-free/ organic/ free range/ pasture-raised eggs. What’s wrong with that? Answer: Sadly, these are all marketing ploys that the industry uses to get well-meaning people to pay more money for their products. There are no rules regarding the length of time or quality of animals’ access to the outdoors. This means a “free range” chicken or turkey may be limited to a small enclosed space where most of the birds can never even reach due to being packed in with thousands of others. “Cage-free” hens commonly live indoors, packed so tightly that they can barely move or spread their wings. These animals do not live a “happy” life and just like you or your dog, don’t want to die. The industry uses these words to get consumers to pay more money for products. They appeal to your sense of morality but please know, there is nothing better about these products.
Question: What’s wrong with eggs? The chickens don’t even have to die for me to eat their eggs! Answer: 99% of eggs produced in the US come from hens who spend their lives in tiny battery cages. They are crammed so tightly inside these cages that they can’t even spread their wings. This is a cruel practice that inflicts much pain and suffering. Eating eggs is not necessary for good health.
Question: What about eggs from chickens that I raise in my backyard? What’s wrong with getting eggs from happy chickens? Answer: For the vast majority of “backyard hen” situations, the hens are not “rescued,” but rather are purchased. The production of egg-laying hens has serious ethical implications, similar to buying poultry meat. Where did the backyard hen come from? Backyard hens usually come from breeders, and breeders are typically only interested in female chicks. These chicks are considered livestock— a product, not a living animal. So what do these breeders do with the male chicks? Since the males are useless to them, they kill them, through maceration, (being grinded in a big machine while still alive) or through suffocation. Either death is gruesome and horrific. Thus, if you are choosing to buy and raise backyard chickens, you are supporting this cruel practice. And you’re giving suppliers a reason to buy more chicks and continue this practice, over and over. At the end of the day, when you say yes to raising hens in your backyard, or buying eggs from people who raise hens in their backyard, you’re supporting with your interest and money this exploitation and death of innocent male chicks.
Question: What are some of your favorite plant based cookbooks? Answer: For starters, I love Isa Does It, and Forks Over Knives, Craving Vegan, and the China Study Cookbook.
Question: Isn’t tofu and other vegan food gross? How can “fake” sausage/beef/chicken be better than the real thing? Answer: Of all the questions anyone could ask me, this is the most baffling. Do you know that hot dogs are made from ground up body parts of animals as well as preservatives like nitrates that have been shown to cause cancer and decrease your life span? Foie gras is a French delicacy made from engorged livers of geese and ducks, created by farmers shoving foot-long sticks down their throats, repeatedly multiple times per day. Milk is body fluid from a cow! and often includes pus and other body excrement. Chickens, cows, pigs and other animals are often COVERED in the feces and urine of other animals. The animals are often kept in such horrific conditions, and covered with these nasty body fluids, not to mention the horror they face when being slaughtered. How could anything be grosser than that!! Tofu on the other hand is made of soybeans. The soybeans are ground up in water, heated and then minerals like calcium and magnesium and salt are added. Let me say that again–tofu is made from soybeans! What is gross about eating beans? Would you rather eat feces, pus, blood, and other bodily fluids, or soy, a plant?
Question: What is the best thing about being vegan? Answer: I’m happier because I’m no longer participating in the cycle of death. I feel free and joyous that I can still enjoy plenty of delicious things to eat, without causing pain, suffering and death. Plus, I’m healthier, and no longer at risk of dying from many of our common diseases. (Read How How Not to Die: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease, by Michael Greger, MD.)
Best of all, my actions align with my beliefs and morals. I can say I love animals and it’s really true. I love animals and I’m doing what I can to not support their needless pain and suffering.
I’m proud of myself and know I’m doing the right thing. It’s a great feeling!
Question: What would you say to someone who is thinking about adopting a whole foods, plant based/vegan diet? Answer: Do you think it’s wrong to inflict pain and suffering on animals? Do you care about the earth and its animals, plants and resources? Do you want to give your body the healthiest food so you can ward off many diseases? If the answer to any of these is yes, then you’re already on your way to being vegan. You cannot eat animal flesh (beef, pork, chicken, turkey, fish, shrimp, octopus, lobster, clams, etc) and consume dairy products in good conscience if you believe in preventing animal cruelty. You cannot blindly keep eating meat and dairy products if you truly care about the earth. You cannot keep eating meat and consuming dairy if you want to give your body the healthiest food. It’s a paradigm shift for sure, and goes against conventional beliefs, but it’s not as hard as it seems, and with baby steps, you CAN do it. The animals would thank you! And you’ll feel better about yourself. Plus it’s better for the earth, and you’ll be part of the solution to global warming and many other climate issues. And amazingly, a whole foods, plant based/vegan diet is better for your health, as you can read about from The China Study, or How Not to Die. Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease by Michael Greger, MD.
I also loved Ed Winters books, How to Argue with a Meat Eater (And Win Every Time) and Vegan Propaganda (And other lies the Meat Industry Tell You). I highly recommend them to anyone who is considering becoming vegan. They have helped me tremendously to understand the arguments against veganism.
Question: Don’t you think being vegan is awfully extreme? Answer: You know what’s extreme? Killing 220 MILLION land animals EVERY DAY for food! This doesn’t even count the marine animals! 2.4-6.3 BILLION marine animals are killed every day. That means that somewhere between 28,000 and 73,000 animals are KILLED EVERY SECOND! Every day more than 202 MILLION chickens are killed for meat– that’s 140,000 chickens every MINUTE!!! That’s extreme!
Caring about animals and wanting to prevent cruelty can hardly be considered extreme beside numbers like these! If humans ate each other at the same rate we eat animals we would be extinct in 7 DAYS!
So no, I don’t think being vegan is extreme!
Question: What about on Thanksgiving? Or Christmas? Or Easter? What do you eat if not meat? Isn’t it sad that you have nothing to eat? Answer: I think it’s just the opposite– That needing to celebrate by causing harm and suffering to an innocent and sentient being is what’s sad. Yes! The holidays are all about love and peace–let’s celebrate by killing and feeding on animals! Oh, this pork loin is so tender! –Know why?? Because it’s a BABY PIG, KILLED WHEN IT WAS BARELY 6 MONTHS OLD! Don’t you see the irony of this? Does it seem right to you to that a day of celebration should be marred by the suffering of others? That in order for us humans to “enjoy” ourselves it requires the torture and death of an animal? That in order to celebrate we require feeding on the flesh of animals? That our holiday means millions of innocent and sentient animals must be subjected to fear, pain and unimaginable suffering and ultimately, death? There are tons of delicious recipes and foods out there that don’t require animal suffering. I for one am all in for celebrating–but now I can do it in a way that is cruelty-free. I can enjoy the holidays in a cruelty-free way that aligns with my values and beliefs rather than follow the crowd. I am choosing to eat cruelty-free and have as many options as people who eat meat.
Question: What’s the most challenging thing about being vegan? Answer: Living with a broken heart for all of the animals that suffer horrific deaths every single day. Living with friends and family who think I’m extreme or ridiculous, insane, or fill-in-the-blank, because I’m choosing to not harm animals any longer.
Imagine it like this: You find out all of your friends and family are keeping slaves in their homes, which you totally disagree with, as you think all people deserve to be treated with compassion and respect. You don’t believe in slavery! But you can’t cut off everyone in your life who is a slave owner! You have to interact with these people regularly, knowing that they believe in slavery and that they support slavery every day behind the closed doors of their homes. It’s very hard to be around these people knowing they support these cruel practices towards animals, EVERY SINGLE DAY, and there’s absolutely nothing you can do about it. You might go over to their houses, or meet at restaurants, and of course, their support of slavery is there, right in front of you. They brag about how good that pork, bacon, turkey, cow, etc tastes. They refuse to stop drinking cow’s milk. Sometimes, depending on the person, they might even say rude things to you about their “right” or desire to eat meat, how it’s “only natural,” or “tastes too good to give up,” or “that humans were designed to eat meat.” They come up with countless reasons why they have to continue to consume the flesh and products of animals. It’s hard not to say anything! Not to agrue for the animals, or speak out against the cruelty.
You are always having to bite your tongue, try to stay quiet and be polite, even though you are SCREAMING inside, especially when they want to argue with you, to tell you why they aren’t harming animals, or they aren’t causing pain and terror.
Even though they see you’ve changed, and they say they love you, they are not willing to change for you, and in many cases, make ANY effort to understand why you’ve made this switch or try any of the foods you now eat. They’re like, “that’s nice, but don’t expect me to make any effort to understand, and definitely don’t expect me to join you in showing compassion towards farm and marine animals.”
And lastly, the ignorance and selfish excuses:
“I’m too old to change!”
“We’ve always done it this way!”
“It’s my right!”
“This food is good for me! How else will I get my protein?”
“I like the taste of bacon/beef/chicken/octopus/shrimp/fish, etc too much!”
“The animals don’t suffer!”
” I only buy organic/grass-fed/free-range/cage-free/ethically harvested!”
“I have carnivore teeth!”
“The cows would die if they’re not milked!”
“Animals don’t feel anything!”
“Lions eat other animals!”
and on and on. People come up with a million reasons why it’s okay for them to continue eating meat and dairy products and supporting with their dollars all of the horror that happens behind closed doors so they can “enjoy” a piece of bacon, or a steak, veal, or calamari or milk. It breaks my heart. Every. Single. Day. Dealing with people who refuse to see the truth is very hard, especially when these people are loved ones.
Question: What’s the most surprising thing about being vegan? Answer: That I don’t have to give up delicious foods! I’ve discovered plenty of yummy recipes that make me crave more. I love the challenge of cooking this way! And I’ve enjoyed so much looking for new recipes to try and new ways to cook plants I’ve eaten all of my life. And there are many companies that make familiar things dairy free, like ice cream, butter, plant milk, etc.
On another note, it has been surprising to witness the pure vitriol that some people have towards vegans. I, and other vegans are just wanting to show all animals compassion and respect and not support animal cruelty, but this makes some people very defensive, angry and rude.
Question: Do you read every food label when at the grocery store? How do you know if something is vegan? Answer: I’m an imperfect human and an imperfect vegan. I simply try to do my best, and cause the least amount of pain and suffering. I don’t read every label. Experience continues to teach me and I’m a lot more knowledgeable now, but do I make mistakes and sometimes eat something with milk or eggs in it? Absolutely. I can live with my imperfections, knowing that most of the time, I am eating in a cruelty-free way.
Question: Do you have any regrets? Answer: Only that it took me so long to do it! It saddens me to think of all the pain and suffering my eating habits have meant for so many animals before I switched to a vegan way of life.
